These are the highly-trained and heavily-armed gardai who are keeping Limerick’s streets safe from notorious gangland thugs.

The Regional Support Unit was set up just over five years ago but since then the brave officers have patrolled the city.

And in an exclusive piece the Irish Mirror was given a behind-the-scenes look at the unit.

Chief Supt David Sheahan explained the important role the team plays in bringing the Treaty city from the brink of anarchy to one of Ireland’s safest cities.

He said: “One of the major factors in dealing with the peak of 2007 was bringing on board the Emergency Response Unit to patrol some of the streets of Limerick.

“We would have had great assistance from our colleagues in Dublin, both in respect of surveillance and the ERU.

“In 2008 to 2009 a decision was made to put the Regional Support Unit in certain areas in the city.

“Really since that date their ability to be able to respond to armed incidents has had a significant impact within the city and how we deal with matters thereafter.

“The RSU was set up to be first responders. If there were incidents of shooting the gardai are unarmed.

“They are highly trained, they have the equipment and they provided a lot of security for the city. From that point in time their presence has had a huge effect.”

The RSU in Limerick are the first to respond to all firearms incidents and because of the unique way they are set up the skilled officers do not spend hours filling out paperwork or sitting in court rooms.

Other weapons at their disposal are the X-26 Taser gun and large pepper spray canister.

Chief Supt Dave Sheehan with members of the ERU Unit (Image: Press 22)

They also have door breachers and a “ferret” gun which enables officers to smash windows and fire pepper powder into rooms.

Other gear includes bulletproof helmets and shields.

Over the past five years the unit have tackled gang members from both the McCarthy/Dundon and the Keane/Collopy gangs.

The RSU – who use XC 70 Volvos – have also been at the forefront of the war against dissidents in Limerick city and county.

Also in the unit’s sights are tiger kidnappers, drugs gangs and violent bank robbers. Garda Barry O’Brien has been stationed with the RSU in Henry Street station for over five years and he explained how the officers had to go through a gruelling training programme before being accepted into the unit.

He said: “You have to fulfill a certain minimum number of criteria before you can apply for it.

“And then you could have 10 people in the station that would go for it and it would be up to the superintendent to recommend three or so to put forward to it.”

He said: “You would have three weeks’ driving, three weeks of shooting and five weeks’ between tactical training and negotiation.

“You would have a one-week first-aid course at the end of it.

“It is an intensive course and you would be zonked at the end of it.

“Because we were first to do it they gave us everything. They have tapered it down since.”

Garda O’Brien explained that they have both non-lethal and lethal options when dealing with armed incidents.

And the preference is always to use non-lethal force first.

The some of the equipment of ERU Unit of Henry Street Garda Station Limerick..Picture Credit Brian Gavin Press 22

Prior to January 2014 the five RSU teams around the country were not armed full-time.

The uniformed members would patrol unarmed with their weapons locked in the boots of their cars.

But they were converted into an armed unit if called on to respond to an incident where there was a threat to life or the possibility of an armed confrontation. Today they are fully armed all the time and that means they do not lose crucial minutes in dealing with a tense situation.

The landmark move was sanctioned by former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and it has already made a difference in the day-to-day running of the force.

Chief Supt Sheehan explained that the RSU units across the country work together and there is an option to call for support when needed.

Thankfully, he revealed, that hasn’t been necessary in recent years.

But he added: “If we come under pressure at times we can call on our colleagues below in Cork to provide us with back-up.

“Fortunately, as a result of the introduction of the RSU, in my time here we can say that now with some certainty [we haven’t needed] that since 2010.

“In early 2010 we had an incident where we brought on board the national units but since then we haven’t had the need to bring them on board here.”